“This Might Be Useful” is the sophomore album by INOHA that was released very recently on Sep. 4, 2026. It is their second full album release.
INOHA is a band that I’ve been following for a bit, ever since discovering them in the indie rock scene from my interest in bands like Good Kid. I’ve even been able to see them perform, back when they opened for a Good Kid concert in April of 2026. Since seeing them live, I was excited for the next time I would be able to dive into their music again.
Their sophomore album, “This Might Be Useful”, features songs both new to the album and released in past singles since their first album, “ALOHA INOHA”.
This album features 10 songs: “Figure It Out,” “Downpour,” “Cusp,” “Weak,” “Everything is Nothing,” “Checking Out,” “Ben’d,” “Are We Cool,” “Between Us” and “Burden.” Four of these tracks were released as singles prior to the album, those being “Downpour,” “Everything is Nothing,” “Checking Out,” and “Are We Cool.”
I will be reviewing the songs on this album in this order, as it is the track list for the album listed on Spotify.
Going into this album, with the knowledge of INOHA’s first album (ALOHA INOHA), I thought this album would also share an overall theme or style. And while most of the songs in this album share a more indie style of straight rock, they all seem to be unique in their own regard. However, after listening to all the songs, I felt like I could see an underlying theme that ties it all together for me.
“Figure It Out” is the first song in this album, and it hooked me almost instantly. Unlike “The Tide” from their first album that lulls you in before raising the intensity, this song lets you know right away how it’s going to go. The lyrics of this song tell a story all on its own, taking the point of view of a superhero or someone who has great powers, struggling with fear and doubt. The high-intensity guitar and drums give a feeling akin to stress or overwhelmingness, and the lyrics take you through the anxiety someone can have when they are expected to do something with their gifts. Even if the story the song is trying to tell isn’t something you’re super into, the song itself is one heck of an opener.
“Downpour” is the first of the four tracks in this album that were previously released as singles. Since I’ve had more time to digest this song than some of the others, it resonates a bit differently depending on when I listened to it. Back when it was first released as a single, my opinions on it were mixed. The biggest praise I gave to this song (as well as my biggest praise nowadays), is how relatable the lyrics are. The feeling of bottling up your emotions so heavily, and having it burst out in an emotional breakdown, is something that I can resonate with so clearly. When the song first released, I can admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan. I looked past the lyrics and just listened to it as a song. I think this was my biggest mistake when I first listened to it. But when I listened to them perform this live in Boston in April of 2025, I was able to appreciate the lyrics more. Thus, after, I appreciated how the music complements the feelings of a bottle of emotions ready to explode into a flood. I think this song is very underrated, and the feelings it expresses are personal to so many people who deal with their emotions in the same way.
“Cusp” shifts the mood into what began as a more negative style. It’s fitting, considering what the song is about. Despite having that mood, the song is almost a protest to giving in to the darkness that surrounds our lives. The tone, almost giving a vibe of being pushed down, somehow amplifies the lyrics that tell you to push past your limits and keep going to an entirely new level. Like no matter how terrible the world seems, you’re at the turning point of something extraordinary. And all you need to do is keep pushing. Definitely a standout vibe and a standout new song for INOHA!
“Weak” is definitely a major mood change, giving the feeling of taking a break, forcing yourself to deal with whatever emotional exhaustion is plaguing your mind. Knowing what song comes next in the album makes me like this song even more for what it’s trying to portray, as the story of this song can easily be led into the next one. The song itself is nice, and I think it succeeds well in the style that it’s trying to portray. It can take you out of the vibe that the previous songs have established, which does make it hard to go from a song like “Cusp” into this. The placement of this song in the album makes sense, but I just think it can be a bit of a mood killer if the vibe that the previous songs gave off was really your jam.
“Everything is Nothing” is the second of the songs in this album that was first released as a single (technically being the third in terms of release order). As a college student who finds himself lounging around on his phone, wishing I could get out and just do something, this song struck a chord with me immediately. And I’d like to think it’s done the same thing to many of INOHA’s Gen-Z listeners. Going from a song like “Weak”, which is about dealing with emotional exhaustion, to a song about wasting your time away is actually pretty genius to me. It almost feels like “Weak” was the prelude to the story of this song. The tune doesn’t get too high energy as well, only heightening a bit when it speaks about what and who the singer wishes he could be like. Again, incredibly smart when it comes to a song about a lack of motivation to be productive in your life. “Everything is Nothing” is definitely a favorite of mine.
“Checking Out” is the third of the songs in this album to have been released as a single prior to “This Might Be Useful.” This was another song I heard them play during their opening act for Good Kid in April of last year. And this song is, without a doubt, my favorite of the songs released as singles. I would even say it’s one of my favorite songs in the entire album. This song kicks it back into high gear with an almost grungy theme to it. Fitting for a song about a deteriorating relationship and having to accept the fact that it may come to an end pretty soon. My favorite thing about this song is most definitely the guitar. I can’t put it into words, but the tone of that guitar hits all the right spots in my brain. And when it kicks into that chorus? It felt like I was in the middle of a mosh pit back at the Roadrunner in Boston. Definitely one of my favorite INOHA songs to date!
“Ben’d” keeps that high energy going, as well as continues the theme of being in a bad partnership. Instead of focusing on the relationship deteriorating as a whole, it focuses more on the perspective of someone who’s trying their best to make it work. The song ending with all the voices yelling “What’s going on?” is so perfect as well, like whoever this song is about is trying to form an answer themselves as to why it isn’t working out. As if they want to justify why this person is acting the way they are. The feeling of trying to compromise with someone so heavily that you bend over backwards is something I can really connect with. Although the tune could be seen as a bit too similar to a song like “Checking Out” or “Cusp,” I do still think the lyrics and story it tells put it apart enough to be unique.
“Are We Cool” is the fourth of the songs in this album to have been released originally as a single. The vibe of this song takes me back to the style of the songs from INOHA’s first album, “ALOHA INOHA.” I do think the tune of this song specifically leaves a bit to be desired, choosing to stay less energized in favor of a more mellow mood. I think it works for a song about trying to navigate a friendship that becomes complicated when someone gets unrequited feelings. When two people have mutual feelings, it feels like you’re on cloud nine. A song like that would work perfectly with a high-intensity and energized tune. But one where it’s unrequited, and the other party is struggling to figure out how to handle it, a more restrained mood is a must. It’s a feeling I can understand and relate to, which is why I don’t think this is a bad song. I’m a fan of it, but I think the song itself, without the lyrical context and understanding, wouldn’t be a big winner in many people’s eyes.
“Between Us” functions as almost the opposite of “Are We Cool.” Instead of having the restrained feeling of unrequited feelings, “Between Us” is about connection. Real, true connection. The mood of this song, while not as intense and high-energy as most tracks on this album, almost gives off a dreamy vibe. The feeling you can get in your stomach when you truly connect with someone, the feeling that makes you feel like you’re floating, is perfectly encapsulated in this song. The instruments that are unique to this song support this feeling even more, almost having a dreamlike lo-fi sound to it. Having these two songs back to back works incredibly well, and this song does its job to an incredible degree.
“Burden” takes its role as the finale to the album and runs with it. The tune of this song almost seems to mix the different styles that can be seen in not only this album, but the different styles INHOA has explored in their time of playing. It has the guitar intensity of songs like “Cusp,” the lo-fi style of background tunes seen in “Between Us,” as well as keeping itself somewhat restrained like in “Are We Cool.” My only complaint? I liked this song so much, I felt like it was over way too quickly. I think that should speak volumes about how amazing a finale this song is. It captures all of the feelings expressed in the songs prior, and wraps it in a style that feels supportive and kind. Almost like no matter the problems shared in the previous songs, they shouldn’t eat you up inside for the rest of your life. You don’t have to forget, but you can keep going. “Burden” takes that “keep going” mentality of “Cusp,” and combines it with the feeling of connection shared in “Between Us” and “Are We Cool.” Almost as if no matter the relationship between people, that connection can break through whatever awkwardness and issues you have. And for an album all about the issues you can have both with yourself and the people you’re close to, never forgetting that connection is a lesson that is incredibly important.
At the end of the day, I was incredibly impressed with “This Might Be Useful.” The storytelling INOHA was able to put into this album was incredible, and the music was filled with tracks that both gave me new appreciation for a song I already knew, and tied it together more tightly with incredible new songs. Ever since I heard about the album’s release, both from social media, as well as personally from INOHA bassist Christian Young, I was excited to dive into this band yet again. And now that I have? I can truly say I can’t wait for the next release from them. If I wasn’t already convinced to try and get a ticket for the upcoming show in Boston, this album may have been the thing to do it!
Michael Ardita can be contacted at
mardita@kscequinox.com
